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NEW YORK -- Target (TGT) is becoming the latest retailer to open earlier on Thanksgiving this year.

The Minneapolis-based discounter said it will open at 8 p.m. on the holiday, which falls on Nov. 28. That's an hour earlier than last year. Target stores will remain open throughout the night and close at 11 p.m. on Black Friday.

Kathee Tesija, executive vice president of merchandising at Target, told The Associated Press that she felt the 8 p.m. time was just right, based on the competitive landscape, and the sentiment among shoppers and its own store staff.

Target will also be offering hundreds of deals online on Thanksgiving morning that will include almost all deals that will be available in the store. In addition, the discounter said it will be feature 15 online-only daily discounts for two weeks beginning Sunday, Nov. 24.

The goal is to allow customers to shop "however, whenever they want to shop," Tesija said.

Traditionally, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been the kickoff to the holiday season, with stores opening at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m.

But over the past several years, retailers have pushed Black Friday opening times earlier and earlier, and now on Thanksgiving itself. This year, Macy's (M), J.C. Penney (JCP), Kohl's (KSS) and several others have announced plans to open Thanksgiving evening for the first time.

Others, like Toys R Us and Best Buy (BBY), are opening earlier on Thanksgiving than last year. Toys R Us is set to open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, three hours earlier than last year. Best Buy plans to open at 6 p.m., six hours earlier than last year's midnight opening.

The retailers say it's what customers want, but they are also trying to be the first to grab shoppers' dollars at a time when budgets are constrained. The stakes are high, since the holiday season accounts for anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of annual revenue.

There's also more pressure on retailers this year, because the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is six days shorter than in 2012.

Overall, the National Retail Federation, the nation's largest retail trade group, expects an increase of 3.9 percent in holiday sales for the November-December period, up from 3.5 percent last year.

Elmo was popular when I was a kid. He was popular in the mid-90s, when America went insane over Tickle Me Elmo dolls. And with the toy appearing on all three lists, it looks like he'll be popular this year, too.

Centuries from now, when humanity has migrated to the stars, we'll still give our kids Elmo dolls for Space Chanukah.

Here's another ghost of Christmas shopping past. Kmart and Walmart are both bullish on the latest Furby, which according to the product description "has a mind of its own." It goes on to say that "the way you treat your Furby will shape its personality." Incidentally, you could also describe children this way. Expect to pay around $60 for this one.

Doc McStuffins follows the adventures of a veterinarian who operates on stuffed animals, and the dolls and play centers promise to be popular again this year. All three retailers have this playset on their lists, though it should be noted that Toys R Us exclusively has the "Deluxe" version of the kit pictured here. The Deluxe set has 14 bonus pieces, including a fetching pink labcoat. Note that the Deluxe costs $79.99, versus $64.50 for the standard set at Walmart.

The Ninja Turtles are going to be big this year. At Kmart you can find this remote-control "Shellraiser" vehicle, which shoots sewer covers and costs around $45. At Walmart there's the Secret Sewer Lair playset, which costs $80. And at its holiday preview event last week, Toys R Us had classic Ninja Turtles figures and their "party wagon" on display.

Basically, you can't go wrong with Ninja Turtles. (Which, incidentally, is what I tell my parents every year when they ask what I want for Chanukah.)

Both Kmart and Walmart list this one, so it looks to be this season's hot Nerf gun. As the coloring and name make clear, it's a toy weapon being marketed to girls, a rare move for Nerf. We're thinking the popularity of archery-centric movies with teen girl protagonists like "The Hunger Games" and "Brave" account for Nerf's sudden interest in selling to the female market.

We don't recall Princess Merida or Katniss Everdeen using a hot-pink-and-purple bow, but hey, that's toy marketing for you. This one will cost $15.99 at Walmart.

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gberes7

There should be a federal blue law. That way these stores will not be allowed to open on federal holidays. The benefit to the stores is that the competition can not open either so they loose no sales. The benefit to the employees goes without saying.

Target Executives, What is your major malfunction? Your employees and their families must mean nothing to you, the only thing you worship is the almighty dollar. ".... and men will become lovers of themselves." 2 Timothy 3:2-5

I never liked Target to begin with, but the deal breaker for me is when they banned the Salvation Army bell ringers. I've been there once and will never return again. I don't shop on Black Friday, Christmas Eve, or Easter because (to echo many here) I think that it's shameful to deprive these poor people of their families.

If the CEO\'s decide to open on Thanksgiving day that is fine as long as the CEO is the cashier at one of the stores.Undercover Boss would be a great idea if the CEO had to work in store every holiday for a year.....

All the comments I have read over the past couple of weeks about the stores opening on the holidays are telling the retailers t stay close and let the workers stay with their families. I agree 100% No we all have to put our money where our mouth are and STAY HOME until Friday morning. Lets BAN TOGETHER AMERICA and show the retailers it isn't what we want.

Target says ..."It is what the customers want"...... I am a customer..and it isn't what I want. I want people to be with their families and loved ones on Thanksgiving evening. I think Target is making up stories.....just to sell stuff. All the other idiotic big box stores are opening.....and Target simply didn't want to be left out.